South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People
(Feature Image: Kabini Dam. Source: WRD, Karnataka)
The SouthWest Monsoon has just set in and dam safety issues are coming up in large number of dams in Karnataka, Telangana, besides dam disasters in Himachal Pradesh. This shows how much more we need to do to assure structural and operational safety of India’s dams in changing climate.
Continue reading “DRP 30 June 2025: Dam Safety concerns arise as monsoon sets in”(Feature Image: Screen shot of remaining portion of washed away tin-shed of NHPC’s Parbati II HEP)
In addition to severely damaging the Jiwa and Priyadarshini small hydro power projects, the ‘cloudburst’ induced flash floods on June 25, 2025 has also significantly affected the Parbati II & III projects in Sainj Valley of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh.
Continue reading “June 2025: NHPC Parbati II, III HEPs damaged in floods”(Feature Image: Submerged powerhouse of Jiwa SHP in Siund, Sainj. Source: Amar Ujala)
A massive flash flood following a ‘cloudburst’ has totally damaged the powerhouse and weir site of the Jiwa Small Hydroelectric Project (SHP) in Sainj Valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh on June 25, 2025. The powerhouse of 1 Mw SHP is located in Siund village area near the confluence point of Jiwa nullah with Pin Parbati river. Its weir site is located about 2 km upstream on the Jiwa stream.
Continue reading “June 2025: ‘Cloudburst’ damages Jiwa hydro project in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh”(Feature image rescue work in Manuni khad in Khaniyar, Kangra on 26 June 2025. Source: Social Media)
In a tragic incident several workers of under construction Indira Priyadarshini Hydel Project are missing after a ‘cloudburst’ induced flash flood struck the project site on June 25, 2025. The 4.8 Mw (2.4 X 2) small hydro power project is being developed by Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Power Pvt Ltd (IPHPPL) on Manuni khad near Sokani Da Kot village under Khaniyara post office of Dharamshala tehsil in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Manuni khad is a tributary of Baner River in Beas basin. The construction work started in Dec 2019 & was scheduled for commissioning in May 2026.
Continue reading “June 2025: Indira Priyadarshini HEP in Himachal: Workers missing, Project damaged”The Central message after fifty years of Gharial Conservation effort since 1975 is that Gharial’s fate remains precarious. It seems like a species living on borrowed time, forever on the verge of extinction. It is living thanks to a few scientists, forest officials and some riverside communities. And if we really want to save Gharials, we must save rivers, the habitat of Gharials from sand mining, dams and pollution.
If the next 50 years of Gharial conservation are to be more successful than the last, India will need to protect not just a species, but an entire ecosystem. Gharials can be saved only if their habitat, rivers can be saved. India showed the will to save tigers starting early 1970s, but is there a will to save some of the rivers to save gharials?
Continue reading “Message after 50 yrs of Gharial conservation: Save Rivers if we really want to save Gharials”Can Solar pumps threaten groundwater sustainability? The answer is yes. Without integrated water and energy governance India’s solar irrigation drive may worsen environmental stress, say experts. Along with the energy benefits, there are invisible consequences of solar pumps – excess water extraction and energy going waste.
Continue reading “Dams, Rivers & People-June 23 2025: Solar pumps threatening Groundwater Sustainability?”At the window of his new house, in a crowded suburb of Pune sits Aba Gawas. He looks out at the traffic and talks of his river Dabhil, more than 400 kms away from him. For years, Aba has fought hard to protect the river. He calls it Dabhil Mauli, a term of endearment reserved for mothers and deities. He is not keeping very well and longs to return to Dabhil Mauli. I realize with a sudden pang, rivers are home.
Continue reading “Dabhil Mauli: Stories and Struggles of a Small River in the Western Ghats”Uttar Pradesh’s Noon river runs again Jalaun farmers in Bundelkhand will not have to toil too much this season to get water for crops. They have almost revived an 81km-long local river that had dried up completely. Community members have restored the drainage basin over a 14km course of Noon river to create a funnel through which water has again entered it. The river had dried up to encroachments and poor rainfall. The revival commenced in 2021 and reached the final stage only recently, with voluntary labour contributions from thousands of local men and women. Officials said the water would start flowing through the entire course of the river in a fortnight. The river is expected to help more than 15,350 farmers.
Continue reading “Yamuna Manthan June 2025: Positive water, river stories from Yamuna basin”2025 marks the 25 years of the publication of the World Commission on Dams Report in Nov 2000, the report and its recommendation are as eminently relevant as they were ever earlier including in 2000.
Continue reading “The World Commission on Dams is eminently relevant at 25!”“The commissioning of the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project (SLHEP) has been further delayed till May 2026” NHPC has now acknowledged. In a report filed by PTI, the project developer has acknowledged on June 12 2025 that the controversial 2000 MW Hydropower project on Subansiri River in Brahmaputra basin on Assam-Arunachal border “has suffered “minor damages” during the recent monsoon rains”. The suggestion that the damages were minor may not be accurate considering the consequences of project delay.
Continue reading “Subansiri Lower HEP faces damages in 2025 like in every year since 2019”
SANDRP 